Ending free parking for NHS staff while the Covid-19 case numbers are high is a 'slap in the face' for those working for the health service, a GP told Good Morning Britain.
Dr Hilary Jones called on the Government to re-think its plan to remove NHS workers' right to park for free at hospitals in England from Friday. Free parking was introduced as a temporary measure to assist staff during the Covid pandemic.
"All the reasons, all the justifications for giving free parking to NHS staff during the pandemic are still there," Dr Hilary said on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday.
Read more: How Covid cases are rising in the North East
"They're still working unpaid overtime. They're still struggling to get to work. Let's facilitate them getting to work, to do the job we want them to do, not take away the free parking. It's a slap in the face."
Parking fees in England were waived during the Covid-19 pandemic, but Sajid Javid said that the benefit would end on Friday. Staff are not charged to park at NHS hospitals in Wales and Scotland.
In an update on Covid-19, Mr Javid wrote: “Free parking in hospital car parks for NHS staff introduced during the pandemic will also come to an end on 31 March.
“However, over 93% of NHS trusts that charge for car parking have implemented free parking for those in greatest need, including NHS staff working overnight.”
He added: “On behalf of the Government, I would like to record my thanks to everyone who has worked tirelessly to keep people safe over the last two years and whose efforts have enabled us to move to the next stage of the Covid-19 response.”
Rachel Harrison, national officer for the GMB union, told the PA news agency: “Charging the NHS staff who’ve risked their lives during the pandemic to park at work is a sick joke.
“After the years of Tory cuts NHS trusts are struggling, we know.
“But scrabbling the money back off hard up workers is not the answer.
“The Government must now legislate for free hospital staff parking once and for all.”
TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady told PA: “Our amazing NHS key workers put their lives on the line to get us through this pandemic.
“Scrapping free car parking in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis is a lousy way to repay that service.
“The Government should be giving health staff a proper pay rise – not adding to their bills.
“And it should be funding our NHS properly so that hospitals don’t have to rely on car parks for income.”
The Department of Health and Social Care said that the perk was “temporary” and introduced in July 2020 “for the duration of the pandemic”.
It said that the scheme had cost around £130 million over the past two years.
Unison’s head of health Sara Gorton added: “This is no way for the NHS to hang on to staff in the current job market.
“Parking charges will add hundreds of pounds to the massive cost pressures already facing health staff and reduce their morale even further.
“Those already on the brink of leaving the NHS may well see this as the final straw and head for the exit, just as the service needs experienced staff the most.
“More than a third of staff have had to ask family or friends for financial support in the last year, according to Unison research.
“More than two fifths say they’re taking on extra work to make ends meet.
“This is the reality facing health workers. An inflation-busting pay rise is vital to stop more staff leaving NHS jobs this year.”
